Both Karen Golinski and the Department of Justice had signed off on the broadcast, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. However, the Golinski case is one of the few taken up by the House after the DOJ was ordered to end its legal support of DOMA.

It's not clear why the GOP-controlled House decided not to participate, particularly in light of the lack of witnesses that will be present at the hearing.

Concerns of witness intimidation were at least partially responsible for stopping the broadcast of the Proposition 8 trial early last year.